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Global System for Mobile communications is the most popular standard for mobile phones in the world. Its ubiquity makes international roaming very common between mobile phone operators, enabling subscribers to use their phones in many parts of the world under network 850 Mhz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and the 1900 Mhz frequencies. GSM differs significantly from its predecessors in that both signalling and speech channels are digital call quality, and so is considered a second generation (2G) mobile phone system. This has also meant that data communication were built into the system using the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

GSM technology can work on up to 4 frequencies: 850 Mhz, 900 Mhz, 1800 Mhz, and 1900 Mhz. Some GSM phones support all the bands or frequencies, or just a couple. A dual band phone supports only two, usually 900/1900 or 850/1900. A tri-band phone supports three bands, either 850/1800/1900 or 900/1800/1900. A quad-band phone supports all GSM bands are able to work with any and all GSM service providers. On the other hand, GSM service providers support just a subset of all the GSM bands available.

Before buying a GSM phone ,make sure the phone supports at least one of the bands that your GSM service provider supports. It is recommended for Cingular or Rogers Network to purchase an unlocked quad-band phone. As for Fido and T-Mobile you can either purchase an unlocked quad-band phone or unlocked Tri-band phone.

The SIM card contains a microchip that stores data that identifies the user to the carrier. The data is also used to encrypt voice and data transmissions, making it nearly impossible to listen in on calls.


The SIM, typically located under the battery of the mobile phone , can easily be removed and placed in another phone. This will cause the new phone to instantly operate using the subscribers existing phone number and account.


The SIM free phone refers to an unlocked GSM phone is a cell phone that can be used with various GSM-compatible carriers worldwide (a GSM phone requires a SIM card). That means an unlocked cell phone can be used within United States with T-Mobile, AT&T, etc., provided the phone supports the frequencies of the service provider.

unlocked cell phones can also be used with many other GSM service providers/carriers around the world.

A "locked" phone can only be used with its carrier; it cannot be used with another carrier's service. (Not counting roaming.)

An unlocked phone can be used with any GSM carrier, provided the phone supports the frequencies of the service provider.

TIMTECHS only carry unlocked cellphones .

OEM (original equipment manufactured) phone accessories are the unlocked phone accessories made by cell phone and PDA manufacturers.


Aftermarket (Brought to the market) Accessories are the accessories that have be brought after the cell phone release by other manufacturers ( NOT ORIGINAL) .

These acronyms represent various digital cellular technologies. Every cell phone carrier in the U.S. and Canada use one of these 2 technologies, all of which provide a much better sound quality than analog phones.


In the U.S and Canada, those popular service providers use the following technologies:

AT&T Wireless : GSM

Cingular : GSM

T-Mobile : GSM

FIDO: GSM

Rogers Wireless : GSM

Sprint PCS : CDMA

Verizon Wireless : CDMA

Telus Mobility : CDMA

Bell Canada: CDMA

GPRS is used for various data applications on phones, including wireless Internet, MMS, and software that connects to the Internet. Basically, any network connection that is not voice or text messaging uses a data connection like GPRS.


GPRS offers a tenfold increase in data speed over previous (circuit-switched) technologies, up to 115kbit/s (in theory). Typical real-world speeds are around 30-40 Kbps.
Newer technologies like EDGE and 3G are much faster.

HSCSD is a high-speed version of CSD, the standard method of data connections before packet-based technologies such as GPRS. A CSD connection is considered a data call. A CSD data call is very similar to a voice call, except with the voice codecs disabled. A CSD call therefore occupies the came bandwidth as a voice call.


Unlike packet-based technologies, a CSD or HSCSD data call uses the same amount of bandwidth at all times, regardless of whether data is being transmitted at any given moment.
HSCSD achieves higher speeds than CSD by aggregating several simultaneous CSD data connections.

EDGE is used automatically when both the phone and network support it. EDGE phones will automatically revert to the slower GPRS standard when EDGE service is not available.


Although many EDGE phones and devices are theoretically capable of up to 236 Kbps, most EDGE networks are only configured to allow up to 135 Kbps, to conserve spectrum resources. Real-world data rates are usually lower than the maximum.


Because it is based on existing GSM technology, EDGE is a smooth upgrade for GSM network operators. It also works within existing spectrum, making it ideal for countries without dedicated 3G spectrum, such as the US.

3G Stands for 3rd-generation. Analog cellular phones were the first generation. Digital phones marked the second generation (2G).


3G is loosely defined, but generally includes high data speeds, always-on data access, and greater voice capacity.


The high data speeds are possibly the most prominent feature, and certainly the most hyped. They enable such advanced features as live, streaming video.


There are several different 3G technology standards. The most prevalent is UMTS, which is based on WCDMA. (WCDMA and UMTS are often used interchangeably.) UMTS is the 3G technology of choice for most GSM carriers.
The other major standard is cdma2000, which is an evolution of CDMA 2G technology. There are several types of cdma2000, each offering different data rates and levels of compatibility with 2G CDMA.

The wireless version of a LAN (local-area network). WLAN technology provides short-range, high-speed wireless data connections between mobile data devices (such as laptops, PDAs, and phones) and nearby Wi-Fi access points (special hardware connected to a wired network).


WLAN technology is generally faster than 3G mobile technologies , but with much shorter range. 3G is therefore in a category known as WWAN (Wireless Wide-Area Network).

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology used to create PANs (Personal Area Networks) among your devices, and with other nearby devices.

Bluetooth allows you to leave your phone in your pocket, while talking on your phone with a bluetooth headset with no wires.

You can also exchange contact or scheduling information with other Bluetooth-enabled phones nearby, or send such information to a nearby Bluetooth-enabled printer.

Infrared can be used to wirelessly connect the phone to various devices, for various purposes. It can connect the phone to a computer, so that the computer can use the phone to make a data connection (to the Internet, or for syncing, for example.) It can also be used to exchange information such as phone book entries with other phones. Finally, some phones can also use it to send information such as phone book entries and calendar events to Infrared-equipped printers.


Infrared is a line-of-sight wireless technology that uses a beam of invisible light to transmit information. This means that the infrared ports of both devices must be nearby and aimed at each other for a connection to succeed.

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a type of plug-in connection that is used to connect devices, including some phones, to desktop or laptop computers. In a phone, USB is useful for quickly transferring files to and from USB phones, or for synchronizing address book and calendar information with a computer application such as Outlook.


The phone is typically recognized by the computer as an accessory, with the proper driver installed on the computer.
However, some phones support USB-Host (also called USB-OTG), which allows USB accessories to be connected directly to the phone, with no computer involved

The "core" software that controls the basic operation of an electronic device. Examples include Windows and Mac OS for PCs, and Palm OS and Symbian for mobile devices.


More advanced OS platforms for mobile devices, such as Symbian (including Series 60 and UIQ), Windows Mobile, and Palm OS, allow full software applications to run on top of the OS, such as games, organizer applications, and communication applications.

In wireless phones, built-in software that allows the user to access special Internet sites using their phone.
While nearly all browsers in phones can view sites made especially for phones, only some can also display "full" web sites.

There are main reasons why you might want to buy an unlocked phone.

Travel internationally without the hassle of paying the very expensive international rates your present wireless company would charge you while internationally roaming.

Having the freedom of switching carrier while keeping the same phone. (Pre-paid plans, no contract plan, or carrier contract plans)

All of our unlocked phones are compatible with any GSM carrier (NOT CDMA);


unlocked phones are often used when travelling overseas, so be aware of the differing frequencies when purchasing a mobile.

Most phones outside of the U.S. run on the 900-MHz and 1800-MHz frequencies, the international standards. Likewise, buying an unlocked phones , make sure it runs on America's 850-MHz and 1900-MHz signals. An unlocked quadband phone will ensure international compatibility.

No, You don't have to commit to a one or two year term. You just buy the SIM, use it as much or as little as you like, and stop using it whenever you choose. You have the choice of choosing any carrier or even using a pre-paid SIM card (usually used by travelers).

Maybe.Your current wireless provider will still charge you exactly the same as before for all your calls.But because your phone is now unlocked , you can use a different SIM from a different provider whenever this might give you better rates - for example, when travelling overseas.

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